Are you getting tired of all my nautical map projects yet?  I hope not cause guess what?  Yup, I got another one for ya.  So far I have made these coastal coasters, this End Table, and this Console Table using nautical maps.   I still have maps leftover from my end table project, and I had this old tray that had seen better days, so I decided to make a DIY Nautical Map Serving Tray.

Here is how I did it…

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Step 1…Paint the Tray…

I’ve had this tray for years and it is adorable, but it was looking a little ragged.  It had a bunch of chips and a big water stain on the top.  Therefore, the first thing I did was paint this sucker using some left over white spray paint from my garage.  If you want to attempt this project and don’t have a tray already you can get a similar one, here, here or here.

Ah! Yes! That’s much better.

Step 2…Cut the Map and Glue it…

To cut the map, I simply measured the top of the tray and then measured the map and cut it with scissors.  I wasn’t worried about the seams because I knew the adhesive and the Mod Podge would smooth them out.

NOTE: You can use whatever image you want on the top.  It doesn’t have to be a map at all.  I used this Bahamas nautical map wrapping paper from amazon.  

To attach the map to the tray, I used this spray adhesive.  Simply spray a generous amount right to the top of the tray, and then carefully place the map on top.  Once it was stuck to the tray, I used this roller tool to smooth out any bubbles.  You can also use a credit card.

Step 3…Mod Podge the Top…

I used my foam brush to put several layers of Mod Podge on the top.  This stuff will seal it and protect it from any moisture.  I usually just pour some on and then use a foam brush to paint it on.  For this piece, I used 2 coats.

Step 4….Finish it off…

Finally, the last step is to spray a top coat (or two) of this Clear Acrylic Gloss Coating.  This stuff dries in minutes and adds another layer of protection against spills.  I used 2 coats.

That is it. Simple, easy and cheap to make.

Here is the finished product.